Thunder Denies Cocky Attitude
The Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets first-round playoff series has already started living up to its billing. With just one game down (OKC won 107-103), we’ve seen Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combine for 72 points, Nene leaving mid-game with injury only to return as Denver’s top player with 22 points/eight rebounds/9-of-11 in field goals, stare-downs between players, a late blown goaltending call, and the league later recognizing said blown call.
Prior to the final match-ups being confirmed, Denver, on the heels of two recent losses to OKC, seemed to be initiating drama with the Thunder camp.
"There’s no question there’s a cockiness to Oklahoma City that we’re anxious to see if that’s what we’ve got to go through," said Nuggets coach George Karl to Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post.
"Everybody (else) is pretty much whatever, whoever we’ll be ready to go, but I want them though," added Nuggets guard Raymond Felton. "They were doing a little bit of trash talking, so I want them."
When asked to respond to Karl’s "cocky" comments before tip-off of Game 1, Thunder coach Scott Brooks discounted such claims.
"It’s nothing that I take home with me," said Brooks. "George is a terrific coach and I respect him. I’m not interested in any of the talk. I always believe that the best way to play the game is on the floor. We play with a lot of enthusiasm. We play hard. We play together.
"And if you mistake that for being cocky, that’s your decision.
"I like the way our guys play and I respect (them), and I’m proud of the way they play, and I haven’t thought one bit about what George said," Brooks said, thereby concluding the subject.
Once it was determined the Nuggets would face the Thunder in the first round, the majority of prognosticators picked OKC to win the series. We wondered what kind of pressure that put on this young unexperienced team.
"I guess it’s a good thing to hear that especially at one point in time, it was reversed when they thought we was going to be the worst team in history," Westbrook told HOOPSWORLD. "It’s kinda funny to me that you hear that now. Just about a year or two ago, everybody was saying ‘well, this could be the worst team in NBA history.’
"It’s funny to me. It’s crazy how people talk. We’re just gonna continue to work and get better."
Westbrook’s backup, Eric Maynor, says he’s feeling no pressure at all.
"I know what to expect," he said.
"We feel good. We worked all year to get in this position," noted Brooks. "One of the things about our team is that we work hard and we respect our opponent."
Durant was disappointed in how he performed in last year’s playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers. The infamous gym rat explained how this postseason may shape up differently.
"I’ve been preparing and putting in a lot of work," said Durant. "Last year in the playoffs I didn’t shoot the ball the way I wanted to, but it’s a new season. My teammates always encourage me and put me in good positions to score.
{AUTHOR_BOX}"I try to get the ball where I want to get it, and shoot a good shot," continued Durant. "I’ve been working on it day in and day out and it’s starting to become more natural to me. So whoever guards me, I’ve got to do a good job of being aggressive, making a strong move. Hopefully I’ll get a good shot or maybe I’ll get fouled."
Sounds strange to hear the league’s back-to-back scoring champion explain how his shot is becoming more natural.
Brooks told HOOPSWORLD his players are ready for the playoffs amid the distractions.
"They’re focused. I’ve never seem them nervous, even playing against the Lakers last year in the playoffs," Brooks told us. "I thought they weren’t nervous then and if there was ever a time to be nervous was to be the eighth seed, being your first playoff game in L.A. I didn’t sense that then; I don’t sense it now. They know it’s basketball.
"They got thrown a lot of stuff this last two or three days, and now it’s just playing off your instincts," Brooks added. "We know each other and we understand that that’s what playoffs are about. We know each other’s plays, possessions are very important, so now the guys just have to go out there and play."
That "stuff" Brooks refers to are the claims the Thunder, even Brooks himself, are a cocky and trash-talking bunch.
Westbrook released a smile and small laugh when asked for his response to such descriptions of his team.
"I know pretty much everybody on our team," he began. "I know neither one of us (Durant or himself), and our coaching staff, nobody in this organization is cocky. That’s one thing about everyone around here, everybody’s humble. It never really crossed my mind. It went in one ear and the other. I kinda didn’t worry about it too much."
True, Durant and Westbrook accounted for nearly two-thirds of OKC’s total points in Game 1. Brooks doesn’t expect that sort of trend to continue in the series as other players find their rhythm.
"I think Kevin and Russell are great teammates," shared Brooks. Obviously they developed into All-Stars this year, but we’re a good team. We’re not a Kevin or Russell team, we’re a Thunder team. Guys all chip in."
OxfordDictionaries.com defines "cocky" like this: "conceited or arrogant, especially in a bold or impudent way." Alright, we’ll bite and look it up…impudent means "not showing due respect for another person."
Durant says there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. While we’re not privy to everything said between players on the court, we know some of it isn’t fit to repeat. Is it arrogant when Westbrook releases a primal yell after a dunk or when Durant fist-pumps to the skies following a foul call? If so, the league is deluged with arrogance.
Perhaps all this talk should be taken as a sign that certain teams are demonstrating a burgeoning healthy respect for the young club.
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